Guns are not for playing

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

In the past few weeks, this paper had been carrying reports about the campaign of the police against the sale of toy guns which are crafted so cleverly that they look very much like the real thing, and could be mistaken for them even by those who have some knowledge of firearms.

Only a few days ago, toy guns were seized again by the police in the cities of Himamaylan and La Carlota, and in Hinigaran town, in raids conducted by the police in those places. Police officers conducting the raids noted that the so-called “toys” are very realistic.

The police have pointed out that, because these toy firearms could hardly be distinguished from genuine ones, they have been used by criminals in staging hold-ups and robberies, victimizing people who couldn't tell the toy from the real gun.

Furthermore, as the police also warned, seeing those guns and playing with them has made them familiar to children, who might be exposed to the real ones and play with them, resulting in serious injuries, or even fatalities.

In Manila , too, the police have intensified their raids on stores and stalls selling toy guns. The police there also found out that some of the toys use plastic pellets as bullets, and these could cause real harm to children playing with them.

In fact, Senate President Manny Villar has expressed alarm over the proliferation of such toys and has asked the police to look into the sale of such dangerous playthings.

We support the drive of the police against the sale and use of such harmful toys as guns which can not only do physical harm to children, but also introduce them to the culture of violence through play. There are more than enough offerings in their environment and in what they see, read or hear about the use of firearms and firepower to cause alarm among parents and school and church officials. The campaign of the police against toy guns is therefore one that we should support and assist.*